Have you ever wondered if God is really for you? Here’s a lesson I learned about how to view my weaknesses.
My son played on his high school basketball team when he was a teenager. We loved sitting in the bleachers and cheering him on.
At one game, I noticed a man on the home side of the court videoing the action. I also spotted another man on the opposing side doing the same.
“Steve, who are those men with the cameras, and why are they recording the game?” I asked my husband.
“The guy in the opposing stands is from the team we’ll be playing next week,” he explained. “He’s recording the game to study our weaknesses, so they’ll know where to attack and defeat us.”
“And the man on our side?” I asked.
“He’s recording the game too—also looking for weaknesses—but for a different reason. He’ll show our team where they need to improve so they can grow stronger and play better.”
Same video. Different purposes.
That truth hit me hard.
I don’t know much about sports, but I do know a bit about how the devil works. He studies the video of our lives, looking for weaknesses to exploit—to plan his attack, to trip us up at just the opportune time (Luke 4:13).
But remember—there were two men recording my son’s game.
Just as the accuser is against you, Someone else is for you: the Holy Spirit.
Before Jesus went to the cross, He assured His followers that He would not leave them as orphans (John 14:18). He promised to send the Spirit—the Helper (John 15:26)—who would encourage, enlighten, empower, and intercede for all believers (Romans 8:26).
Then Jesus gave Him another name: the Advocate.
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26).
An advocate is someone who is for you and acts on your behalf. Yes—He is for us! We’re on the same team.
One of the ways He shows that He is for us is through conviction. He points out our weaknesses—not to shame us, but to strengthen us.
The Holy Spirit never reveals a flaw just to expose it. He reveals it to restore us, to refine us, to conform us to the image of Christ.
He replays the video and says, “Right there. See that moment? Let’s work on that. Let’s grow stronger.”
Isn’t that what Jesus did with Peter?
After Peter denied knowing Jesus three times, the devil replayed the footage and the rooster crowed, “Shame, shame, shame. You’re a failure.”
But after the resurrection, Jesus showed Peter the same video and asked him three times, “Peter, do you love Me?” (John 21:15–17). “Grace, grace, grace. Get back in the game!”
Same video. Different purpose.
The enemy wanted Peter to feel disqualified.
Jesus restored him and sent him back into the game energized.
While the accuser points out our weaknesses to convince us we can never change, the Advocate points out our weaknesses so that we can.
It’s the same video—seen from a different perspective.
So, whose voice will you listen to today? Whose voice will you believe?
Condemnation or conviction? The destroyer or the developer? The voice we listen to will shape our destiny.
Remember this today:
The Advocate is for you.
Jesus is for you.
God is for you.
It’s time to get back in the game.
What is one area of your life the Advocate is encouraging you to improve on today? Leave a comment and let’s share.
Lord, thank You for being for me. When I replay the video of my failures, help me not to get stuck there—but to grow there. Thank You for the Holy Spirit who lovingly convicts, strengthens, and changes me. Conform me to the image of Christ. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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Comments 33
Im being encouraged to not focus on my past mistakes in shame and as a failure, but to use it as a stepping stone to grow in Christ.
Thank you Sharon for always sending a message that I can personally relate to. You are such a blessing & uplifting lady that I enjoy hearing from. I wish you would send these messages more often! I need so much work done on me & my walk with Jesus. You’re a true inspiration 🩷
Shelly
The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, is encouraging me to improve in my self-concept and self-esteem related to past failures in finances and relationships—to not feel defeated, but redeemed and entreated to believe I am more than a conqueror through Him Who loves me.-Romans 8:37
Love this message, just what I needed to hear today! Thank you!
Being a controller and fixer, it’s hard to cast my anxieties and fears on God, as we’re told to do in 1 Peter. I have a lot of those lately and they are wearing me down. The head knows but the heart is dragging its feet
Love this 🙏🏻❤️ Spoke volumes to me during a particular struggle I am having!
I love this, Sharon…so glad to have you back. I missed you last week! It’s good that you are taking care of yourself by posting every other week…just want you to know that you are missed on the weeks you don’t ❤️
I’m struggling with pleading with the Lord for my faithful daughter to conceive…so many tears…
Author
Hi Erin. I’m just posting the first and third Tuesday of the month now.
I know He will be with me when I get the results from the biopsy in my neck this afternoon. He walked with me through breast cancer, He will walk and hold my hand through this.
Hi Lynda,
I am going through breast cancer for the second time and I know how scary it can be. I just encourage you to look for all the promises for healing in the Bible. That made me realize that God wants us to be healed, it is not His will that we are sick. We just need to be in agreement with Him and his wonderful promises. I hope this message helps.
Blessings,
The advocate is encouraging me to combat impulsive tendencies and better steward my finances.
Thank you Sharon for sharing,
My weakness is believing God is for me and I know I can change, in time of weakness I will hold on and know it’s the Holy Spirit who wants me to rest in Him and be strong.
When I see others having grandchildren and I don’t it hurts. We adopted 3 children not one are married and no children. One grandchild died a week after birth. I keep asking God why!please pray for me to try and except His will.
Dear JESUS,
Please guide me always with your WISDOM. Correct me with your JUSTICE. COMFORT me with your MERCY. Protect me with your POWER.
In JESUS’ Name AMEN
Blessings Sharon
Veronica 🙏🦋🦋🦋🌈🌈🌈
Dear Jesus,
Guide me with your Wisdom, Correct me with your Justice, Comfort me with you Mercy, Protect me with your Power
In a Jesus’ name Amen
Thank you Sharon for your Spiritual writings
Veronica 🙏🦋🦋🦋🌈🌈🌈
“The Advocate is for you.
Jesus is for you.
God is for you.”
Thank you for this reminder, to get back on my game!
The Holy Spirit is definitely working on my words-when to use them and when to keep my mouth shut! I am learning the difference between using the chapstick or the glue stick! Thank you for your words of wisdom and encouragement!
I am blessed that I come to your site it sure helps me and do some soul searching. Again thank you for taking time to share with us. Can’t wait for your next reading.
For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. (Hebrews 8:12 KJV)
Love this perspective! Weakness is not always a vulnerability but can be an opportunity to work/feel/act differently if a different outcome is desired. If we are not aware of it, we don’t change. That’s why Godly relationships and friendships are so important. Those in our life who want what God does for us can help us be the best version of His creation that we can!
The Advocate is telling and showing me to stand in His promises, and revert back to the past, not too much focus the future, but remain and focus on the present, the now of it all. Keep your eyes on Me, “lean not on my own understanding, but in all my ways; acknowledge Him, and He’ll make my path clear and straight.”
My weakness is really believing that I can trust God with everything.
Thank you Sharon! This just slapped me upside along the head (gently!) of how my day was yesterday. I did not go directly to HIM.
I wallowed in self pity. Thank you for GRACE, LORD. Amen
Love being reminded of how the advocate is always there for me! Thank you, Sharon!
Thank you Sharon!
I know Jesus is my advocate!
How do I pick one, when there are so many. How is it when we are younger, that we think we have it altogether( I did)
But as I have aged(73 now), I feel God pointing out so many things I had wrong( He probably shaking His head and laughing) especially thinking I had to fix everything. God is so incredibly patient with me. Thank you Jesus!🙏
Makes me love Him more❤️
What a timely message. I’ve been feeling stuck for years as I try to finish an assignment the LORD gave me long ago! The Enemy has been working overtime to derail, detour, discourage, and distract me; as well as destroy my life with one thing after another. And, talk about condemnation! The lies Satan whispers and shouts seem to never end! Please help me, LORD. I believe You are my Advocate, the One sent as the Developer, to lead, guide, and help me. Release me from this stuck place of bondage and help me get back in the game! For Your glory & honor, I pray. In Jesus’ Mighty Name. Amen! ❤️🕊️🙏🏻
My weaknesses are my doubts about whether or not I really am God’s child and am I a sincere believer
I keep going forward and thanking the Lord that He is faithful and true
My weakness is overthinking
My weakness is overthinking also and not trusting my decisions. Lord help me to see your ways are better.
Thank you Sharon,
I appreciate you as a helpful perspective facilitator. I really appreciate your insightful messages and your words laser beam to my heart.
Thank you and we are so Blessed !!!!!
That you, Sharon! What a great analogy you gave us with the basketball game! It’s what I love most about your writings. So full of truth and with stories we can remember and think back on. I find myself reading through the other comments and praying for others who have shared🙏❤️🙏
The Holy Spirit is taking me to evaluate my relationship with my mother. She is an elderly now and I had to bring her home to live with me, I am an only child and there is no one else to take care of her, but it has been extremely hard to live with her. Our relationship has always been difficult and now that she lives with me it is even harder. Now I understand that God is trying to have me fix that relationship, forgive her, and love her but I am finding it sooo hard! she is negative, she complains all the time, she is very critical of everything I do, and I feel like all these negative feelings don’t let me be healed from cancer, which was diagnosed to me a year ago, just after she moved in with me.
I read this today and it really hit home. I speak to a friend of mine in a way that makes me hate myself. This is the same way I treated my stepdaughter. I would try over and over to watch what I say and speak kindly to them, but 9 times out of 10 I would fail.
Praying for my prodigal daughter to return to her first love, Jesus Christ. Her father passed away five years ago and she has walked away from her husband and three children. She is living with another woman and lives her life for herself. She needs God.